Method of forming cork facings for laundry rolls



`lune 25, 1929. w. F. GRUPE METHOD 0F FORMING CORK FACINGS FOR LAUNDRYROLLS Filed Aug. 7, 192e Ewa@ ENTORl '4f/Pf l 4 n l nl .W M.w

I BY a ATroRNEY.

.74a Il L b Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM F. GRUIPE, OF LYNDHURST, COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.

VNEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO BOUCHER CORK Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF FORMINGi CORK FACINGS FOR ALAUNDRY ROILS.

Application led August 7,

This invention relates to an improved method of baking compressedproducts of cork.

My invention is directed particularly to the manufacture of bakedcompressed products such as cork envelopes for laundry rolls, flat-`vvork ironers, mangles, and like machines wherein the baking of thecompressed cork particles is carried out by applying the bakingtemperature directly at one side of the product and indirectly heatingthe other side or sides.

My method is applicable to cylindrical, i. e. annular envelopes forlaundry rolls, as well to semi-cylindrical or-other fractional portionsof the full circumference, either formed originally inthe bakingoperation or by severing the sections subsequent to the bakingoperation.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following description and the accompanying drawings,in which Fig. 1 is a central vertical/sectional view of a mold andappartenant devices for compressing the cork particles within the mold;this' figure shows the mold at an intermediate stage of charging andcompression;

lFig. 2 is a similar sectional view showing the model completely chargedwith the coinpressed cork material;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a mold for the manufacture of fullcylindrical envelopes for laundry rolls; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively an end view and sectional side views of abattery of cylindrical molds enclosed in a single oven.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the mold and appurtenant parts areillustrated foi'iise .in the manufacture of annular envelopes of corkfor laundry rolls and the like, and accordinglv the mold proper 10 forderiving a full cylindrical cork roll as a completely molded product.comprises the outer cylindrical wall 11 and the inner cylindrical Wall12 and the bottom plate 13. Pursuant to my invention, the bottom plate13 is annular, that 1s to say, is provided with a central opening 14 ofa diameter as large as is practicable for attaining the desiredlstrength of the material em-L ployed. If desired, the bottom wallportion .13 may be an extension of the outer wall 11 /Aftei suchcompressed 1926. Serial No. 127,891.

and terminated as an inner flange 14a peripherally within the inner moldwall 12.

t .he open upper end of the mold 10 is utilized as the charging end, and.is constructed to coact with a suitable charging chute, usually. ofcylindrical formation and also combining with suitable compressing meansand top closing means.

s one form of such arrangement, I have illustrated the charging chute 15comprising the outer cylindrical wall 16 and inner cvlindrical wall 17.the lower ends 16a and 1,7La being cliaiiifered as indicated reverselyto the chanifered of the outer and inner walls 11, 12, of the moldproper 10, to forni a joint which is leak proof to the cork particlesdui'- ing the stages of charging and compression.

he charge of cork granules, Hakes or the like is fed by means of asuitable delivery pipe into the charging chiite 15 and the mold 10 isfilledl by successive stages of charging and compressing. For attainingsuch compression, I prefer the use of an annular ring 18, of steel orlike metal, and a tampering element 19 in the form of a cylindricalshell of steel or the like, having inside and outside diametersconforming to the dimensions of t-he annular passage of the chargingchute 15. The tampering element 19 is employed in conjunction with ahydraulic press or the like.

As indicated above, the mold proper 10 is charged by feeding the corkmaterial into the chute 15 for a certain height of the material in thechute 15, whereupon the follower ring 18 and tampering element 19 areinserted in the annular passage of the chute 15 and the chargecompressed for the desired degree of compression of the final corkproduct. Usually. the range of compression for laundry rolls is from aminimum value represented by the reduction in volume from two volumes toone volume to a maximum value represented bythe reduction in volume fromsix to one. partially filling charge of corkflias been completed, freshcork material is again fed into the chute 15, after withdrawal of thetampering element 19 and the follower plate 18, until the additionalcharge has been fed into the chute 15, whereupon the follow plate 18 andtampering element 19 are' again placed into the chute 15, and thepredetermined compression carried Cil Fig. 2, and the follower ring 18now functions `riphery,

as the closure for the mold proper 10, and is retained in position bythe use of the holding bars 20 of desire-d number and spaced,about thecircumference at the top of the mold 10. The bars 20 are inserted in theregistering openings 21 of the outer wall 11 and the openings 22 of theinner wall 12. In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the mold proper 10 closedwith its closure ring 18 by means of the holding bars 20, preparatoryfor the baking stage.

I prefer to bake the cork annulus from one side only, and usually fromthe inner side by reason of the more matured baking effect on the innerperiphery of the resulting cork envelope and a less maturedbaking at theouter periphery of the cork envelope, where-` by the resulting bakedenvelope possesses its highest degree of sponginess or resiliency underlaundering conditions at its outer peand a graduated degree ofsponginess lfrom the outer periphery toward the inner periphery.

Such product 1s further advantageous in that the portion of the annulusat the inner periphery-is quite dense and highly resistant to moisture,attained by the increased hardness of the cork particles at the innerperiphery eiected by the application ofthe-heat at the inner side. Theapplication of the heat at the inner side of the cork envelope, duringthe baking stage, also eectsthe vaporization of the resin inherent incork toward the outer periphery, thus increasing the resistance of theouter peripheral portion of the envelope against absorption of themoisture.

Usually, two or more envelopes, each of a complete circumference, areemployed for each laundry roll. Preferably, the mold is rotated duringthe heating operation to equalize the baking action; the rotation ofeach mold and its compressed cork contents may be carried out in anysuitable manner.

Any suitable method of applying the baking temperature may be employed.As an economical method of carrying out the bak.-

ing operation, I have shown an oven, 23, which may be of rectangularshape,- suitable for baking our envelope sections ata time.

As one advantageous form of carrying out the above noted operations andfor attaini'ng other results, I have indicated the skele-u tonizedsupport 24 in which are journalled a pair of rollers 25 for rotativelysupporting each mold26, and each roll 25 extends lengthwise of, themold. As appears in Fig. 5, one roll of each set 25 may be positivelydriven, as by means of an electric motor 27, the shaft of which isconnected directly or by gearing particles.

28 to the respectivesets of rolls 25, the other roll of each pair beingidle, if desired. The heating unit 29 may be of the electrical type, asindicated, and each heating unit may be supported on a rod 30 ofsuitable insulating material, secured to and projecting from the rearwall 31 of the oven 23. The electrical insulating and wiring supportingbase of each heating unit 29 may be of rectangular shape, as indicated.

The period of baking by heating from one side only of the mold iscontinued for a sufiicient time to eect the desired rise of temperatureat the outer peripheral portion of the cork charge within the respectivemolds. Usually, the temperature of the outer portion of the mold chargeis raisedto a maximum of from 185 C. to 275 C.

My invention is applicable for other articles formed lfrom baked,compressed cork particles, wherein the resiliency of the resultingarticle is desired to be of eater extent at one face, namely, the faceisposed more remotely from the heating element in the baking operation.Such procedure also effects a resulting cork composition of greaterbaking ei'ect at the face dis osed adjacent to the heating element inthe akin o ration, such as the inner face of a cy in rical or otherarcuate shape of cork envelope for a laundry roll, thereby insuring theabsence of the penetration of any moisture or the like through theportion of the cork composition disposed more closely to the steel orother metallic laundry roll.

My method is also applicable for forming baked compressed cork articlesof the flat padding type or partially arcuate padding type, as disclosedin m copending a plication Serial No. 51,753, led by me on ugust 3rd,1925 and Serial No. 5,089, filed by me on January 27th, 1925. In suchembodiment of my invention, the cork envelope is compressed in a mold ofcorresponding shape, or the mold may be of fiat formation, and theresultin flat cork products curved, or otherwise res aped, as in agarment pressin machine, under the conditions of increa temperature andpressure by actual use in the machine.

Whereas, I have described my invention ,by reference to specific formsthereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. The method of forming baked, compressed cork envelopes, whichcomprises compressing cork particles in an annular mold and baking thesame by applyin a higher temperature to one side of the mo d than on theremainin temperature eing capable of effecting the vaporization of theresin inherent in the cork sides of the mold, said higherl 2. The methodof forming baked, compressed cork envelopes, which comprises compressedcork products, of arcuate shape, which pressing cork particles in anannular mold 10 comprises compressing cork particles in a and baking thesame by applying the heat mold of corresponding arcuate shape andbakdirectly Within the inner opening of the an- 5 ing the same byapplying the heat directly nular mold.

to the side of less diameter of the resulting In testimony whereof Ihave signed this cork products. specification this 18th day of July,1926.

3. The method of forming baked, com- WILLIAM F. GRUPE.

